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Passing the Baton to Young Scientists

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• Authority; symbol of office

• Responsibility; law enforcement

• Conducting an orchestra

• Relay; planned continuation; succession

• Team spirit - privilege and pride

• Competitive spirit (positive aggression)

• Passion for excellence

Baton

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• Insects – biology/biocontrol/cowpea

• Maize – early, drought tolerant

• Unresponsive soils

• Banana – yield decline/BBTV

• Genomics/genetics/epigenetics

• Genetic transformation

Excitement?

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• Relationships

– student & advisor

– scientists: young &

experienced

– others

– networks

The Team• Styles

– personality

– assertiveness

– culture

– conflict

– gender

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• Coaching/guiding young or less experienced

colleagues to develop their character as

scientists

• Professional ethics

• Knowledge and how to continue finding it

• Skills and how to continue acquiring more

The Substance

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• Reading

– Publications read recently?

– Literature requests from authors

• Writing

– Target journals for manuscripts & tentative titles

– Writing other reports

• Other avenues for learning, sharing

Science Quality

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• Work plans

– Design of work – how rigorous?

– Participation in work planning sessions?

– Impact(s), Outcomes, Outputs, Milestones

– Activities, Tasks,

– Data collection, organization, analyses

– Regular reporting on progress

Planning

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• Communication and Networking

– Presentations (practice within team?)

– Writing for various outlets

– Advocacy

– Professional societies

– Others: costs and benefits

Communication

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• Mobilization– Understanding the environment & tactics– Contributed to design of a major proposal?

• Management– Organizing work and other activities– Managing time (meetings, travel, socializing)– Managing human & material resources

Resources

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• Response to information requests

• Mentoring colleagues

• Participating in team activities

• Acknowledging input of other team members

• Sensitivity to gender and diversity

• Reaction/response to constructive criticism

Effectiveness

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“Having hope means that one will not give in to overwhelming anxiety, a defeatist attitude, or depression in the face of difficult challenges or setbacks.

Hope is more than the sunny view that everything will turn out all right; it is believing you have the will and the way to accomplish your goals.” 

― Doris Kearns Goodwin, Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln

We will make it!

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Thank You